Search for David Spencer and Patrick Warren will never end

POLICE chiefs today vowed the investigation into the mysterious disappearance of two Midland schoolboys would "never close".

POLICE chiefs today vowed the investigation into the mysterious disappearance of two Midland schoolboys would "never close".

The anguished families of David Spencer and Patrick Warren were today remembering the pals who vanished 11 years ago.

David, 13, and 11-year-old Patrick have not been seen since Boxing Day 1996 when they vanished from Chelmsley Wood, near Birmingham.

In October last year, detectives reopened the inquiry. While no trace of the pair has been found Det Chief Supt Gordon Fraser said they would continue until all lines of inquiry had been exhausted.

Over the past 12 months, the team have made more than 1,000 inquiries, interviewing more than 750 members of the public.

More than 300 new statements have been taken and the movements of more than 50 new vehicles tracked.

The inquiries have taken officers across the country to various places, including Devon, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Northern Ireland, Cambridgeshire, Yorkshire and Wales.

Police have also conducted searches on various pieces of wasteland.

In November last year, officers scoured land in Old Damson Lane, Solihull, an old haunt of child killer Brian Field.

The 71-year-old, currently serving a life sentence for the kidnap and murder of Surrey schoolboy Roy Tutill in 1968, was living in the area at the time the boys went missing from Chelmsley Wood.

Police interviewed Field last year over their disappearance and have continued to speak with him over the past 12 months.

A spokesman said: "Brian Lunn Field remains a line of inquiry in this investigation.

"He has been interviewed but has provided no further information to assist the investigation. We continue to keep in contact with him."

Det Chief Supt Fraser said: "The investigation into the disappearance of Patrick Warren and David Spencer will continue whilst we believe that there are still lines of enquiry that we can pursue.

"Those boys went out to play on Boxing Day 1996 and have not returned home since. Our quest to find out what has happened to them continues, and my officers continue to work on all the previous lines of enquiry plus any new ones.

"The investigation is using all the technology and skills that we have available to us in 2007 to try to find closure for Patrick and David's families.

"Our thoughts are with the families at the moment, and we continue to support them through our family liaison officers."

He added: "Until we find out what happened to David and Patrick, this investigation will never close."